Shivaji, the steed, dies

Kolkata’s monstrous buses have just added another infamous feather in their cap. A minibus on Baishnabghata-Howrah route knocked over and killed a thoroughbred, 13-year old Shivaji last evening.

Shivaji belonged to Kolkata’s mounted police division and it was during a routine evening stroll in the Maidan area that this mishap took place.

The sergeant who was riding the horse has escaped unhurt. The horse unfortunately took the brunt of the hit by the minibus, and can be said to have saved the life of his master.

It was raining heavily, so perhaps there would be excuses why the incident occurred. But whatever that be, the fact is Shivaji is no more. To me it’s yet another instance of rash driving that Kolkata’s buses are known for (see my posts, Kolkata’s bus drivers and also Kolkata’s moving boxes).

Shivaji was flown in from Australia at age 7 and from then on he has been a prized possession of Mounted Police. In today’s TT, the horse’s guardians are quoted as lamenting the waste of money spent for Shivaji’s training.

Unfortunately, no matter what, there seems to be no stopping the marauding buses of the city. Who knows whose turn comes next!